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Learn about City of Taunton including our News & Press Releases, Projects, and Team.
City of Taunton
- Founded
- 1639
- Population (2022)
- 59,922
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located approximately 40 miles (64 kilometers (km)) south of Boston, 18 miles (29 km) east of Providence, 10 miles (16 km) north of Fall River, 20 miles (32 km) north of New Bedford, and 25 miles (40 km) west of Plymouth. It is also the seat of Bristol County. Taunton is situated on the Taunton River which winds its way through the city on its way to Mount Hope Bay, 10 miles (16 km) to the south. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 55,874.
Founded in 1637 by members of the Plymouth Colony, Taunton is one of the oldest towns in the United States. The Native Americans called the region Cohannet, Tetiquet and Titicut before the arrival of the Europeans. Taunton is also known as the Silver City, as it was a historic center of the silver industry beginning in the 19th century when companies such as Reed and Barton, F. B. Rogers, Poole Silver, and others produced fine-quality silver goods in the city.
Economic Development
Like many Gateway cities, Taunton has faced a number of hurdles when it comes to economic development. In 2020, the city's Galleria Mall closed and was demolished. With the land purchased by the Atlanta-based Portman Group, the 75 plus acres of land will now become an industrial hub with four total buildings planned to be constructed on the site. The first building, at 248,000-square-feet, will be complete by September, 2024. The second building, at 450,000-square-feet, will come next.
Just down the street is the new commuter rail station, that will take its first riders in May, 2025. Adjacent to the rail station is a permitted 275-unit market rate development project which should also break ground in May, 2025 that will continue to make Route 140 a hub for business development. Just down the street will be a new retro arcade called Free Play, that will be opening in November in the long-closed Pizzeria Uno's location. Just across the street from there, the former TGI Fridays is being developed into a massive Starbucks. Also across from the new arcade, where Target and Kohls are located, the city is working to develop the 18 acres adjacent to Target that was initially supposed to be the commuter rail station until it moved down the street. Retailers like Market Basket, Trader Joes, Costco, Regal Cinemas and others have been approached about this new 18-acre parcel.
Taunton is lucky to have some of the best Industrial Parks in New England in the Myles Standish and Liberty & Union Industrial Parks with a total jobs of 8,653; Total Companies-124; Annual Tax Revenues-$22,123,929. Myles Standish sold its last available parcel in 2022 and the first building on the site, a 180,000-square-foot industrial building, is currently under construction.
In the downtown area, the city has worked hard to attract destination businesses, recently welcoming the Taunton Performing Arts into the old Applause Academy location, who will now feature up to six plays and musicals each year starting with "The Rocky Horror Picture Show: The Musical" to premiere on Oct. 25, 2024. A number of restaurants are locating in the downtown including Nytia's Soul Kitchen, a new Portugese restaurant called Patricia's Kitchen and the Mediterranean 7 Spices restaurant. Also in the downtown, more than 100 affordable units will be on-line come December, 2024 including 30 affordable for sale townhouse units as well as apartments. There are hopes for a new restaurant at 12 Taunton Green as well as a new bookstore in the months ahead.
In the Whittenton area, the 42-acre Whittenton mills finally has a developer, Greystar, who plan 390-market rate units as well as a commercial storefront where there will hopefully be a restaurant and some retail. The plan also includes pickleball courts, a basketball court, soccer field and a walking path, all available to the public. Greystar plans a community meeting in October, 2024, followed by a site plan review process.
In the Weir, the city awaits word on $750,000 in grants to help develop the former Bacon Felt factory on West Water Street. This long dormant site plans to becomes a shipping container retail outlet which will include a distillery, kayak rental, outdoor concert area and more.
In East Taunton, the city welcomed its first restaurant to the Taunton Municipal Airport with Aire Restaurant & Catering opening in April.
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This project will reduce the tax burden on residents and businesses by over $10 million over the course of 30 years as well as reduce energy cost for low to moderate income households. We look forward to the completion of this project!
In addition, the City will be rolling out RFP's for two additional solar projects at Chamberlain Elementary School and the Water Treatment Plant in the coming weeks.
Taunton's Whittenton Mills Complex is being eyed for a massive 390-unit apartment complex.
“This is our white whale,” said Jay Pateakos, director of Taunton’s Office of Economic and Community Development, about the challenges of the 42-acre former industrial site at the City Council as a Whole meeting on Aug. 27.
Pateakos recalled the city's hosting an open house at the site and six developers walked away halfway through the presentation because “it was too difficult to develop" due to all the dilapidated buildings and environmental contamination.
Who's the developer?
Enter global housing developer, Greystar, who not only wants to take on the challenge, but has the resources to pull it off.
Pateakos told the Gazette if this gets fully approved, it will be the biggest housing development the city has ever seen.
Ryan Souls, senior director of development for Greystar, said the company has been looking at the site — at 437 Whittenton St. — intermittently over the last two years, and its attraction to the site comes down to a belief in “growth opportunities for the area” and the desire to deliver “attainable housing to areas that have been historically undersupplied.”
Lots of amenities and retail space
The early conceptual plan for the site envisions 10 buildings with a total of 390 units.
Sixty-two percent of the units will be one-bedroom, with the remaining being two- and three-bedroom units.
Additional features being considered for the site include a pool area, a playground, walking trails, a public park/pavilion area, a couple acres of open space to be used for recreational activities, like pickleball, soccer, and basketball, and several acres set aside for new retail and commercial space.
Souls said the development won’t be a gated community, and all the recreational and commercial/retail space will be open to the public.
How much will rent be?
All 390 units are categorized as market-rate housing.
Souls said there will be no income restrictions for the units, but the primary demographic is middle-income singles, couples, and families making at least 80% Area Median Income (AMI).
Souls emphasizes pricing is based on current market rates. Completion of this development is years away, but early estimates for one-bedroom units are $1,950 a month.
Why no affordable housing?
Souls told the Council that with such a massive undertaking with a site having such challenges to deal with, there are revenue goals the company has to meet “to make it work, from an investment perspective.”
Greystar, he said, intends on sticking to reasonable rates across the inventory of housing units by yielding to the lower end of market-rate pricing, rather than sticking to subsidizing a small percentage of units, he said.
Souls also said Greystar, who will also be the property manager, will employ an additional restriction that rent increases, when done, will not exceed 3% annually.
$150 million project
The total project cost is estimated at $150 million.
That number includes up to $5 million in demolition costs for the whole site and as much as $9.5 million in remediation efforts related to brownfield contamination and asbestos cleanup.
Tax break for developer
On Aug. 27, the City Council approved for Greystar a tax increment exemption (TIE) agreement, which excludes a portion of real estate taxes for an agreed-upon time.
Greystar will get a tax break of $16.29 million over the course of 20 years.
Souls argued the money saved from the TIE agreement will recoup the costs of Whittenton Mills' demolition and cleanup.
Earlier this year, the City approved a TIE Agreement for a 275 market-rate unit project at 1141 County St., located directly next to the MBTA South Coast Rail Station under construction.
Benefits to the city
Souls from Greystar said the company estimates the city will bring in a lot more revenue from the project than the tax break. He provided the following estimates:
- Estimated property taxes over 20 years — $19.1 million
- Estimated excise taxes over 20 years — $2 million
- Estimated permit and connection fees — $1.5 million
- Estimated new retail and commercial growth — $1 million
That's a total estimated new revenue to Taunton over 20 years of $23.6 million, according to the developer.
Taunton, MA – Mayor Shaunna O’Connell proudly announces the City of Taunton has achieved a remarkable milestone in securing grant funding, with a total of $7,345,466 received over the past five years. This funding has been instrumental in supporting various projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for Taunton residents.
The grant funding received by Taunton each year is as follows:
- 2020: $352,662
- 2021: $477,000
- 2022: $1,112,307
- 2023: $2,173,086
- 2024: $3,230,411
Mayor O’Connell expressed enthusiasm about this notable accomplishment. "We have set a new record in grant funding for our city. In the aftermath of COVID, our team has increased grant funding close to 1000%. These grants help us fund projects without adding to the burden of the taxpayers. The substantial increase in grant funding over the past five years is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our city officials and staff. Many city employees are actively involved in the grants process, and I am particularly grateful to our former Grants Coordinator, TJ Torres, and current Grants Manager, Heather Rios, for their contributions to this significant achievement," said O'Connell.
Grant funds have been allocated to a range of impactful projects, including enhancing infrastructure such as roads and bridges, supporting community development and local businesses, investing in public safety resources for police and fire departments, and expanding access to healthcare and social services for vulnerable populations.
"We are committed to continuing our efforts to secure additional funding and resources that will
benefit our city," Mayor O’Connell added. "The support of our state and federal partners, as well as the collaboration of our local community organizations, has been instrumental in increasing our grant funding opportunities."
The O’Connell Administration looks forward to building on this success and leveraging future grant opportunities to continue to save taxpayers' money and support and advance the progress being made in the City of Taunton.
Projects
Team
Jay Pateakos
Talk to us
Have questions? Reach out to us directly.